The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson; and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson eBook

“Thus,” continued Thridi, “whilst
freezing cold and gathering gloom proceeded from Niflheim,
that part of Ginnungagap looking towards Muspellheim
was filled with glowing radiancy, the intervening space
remaining calm and light as wind-still air. And
when the heated blast met the gelid vapour it melted
it into drops, and, by the might of him who sent the
heat, these drops quickened into life, and took a human
semblance. The being thus formed was named Ymir,
but the Frost-giants call him Orgelmir. From
him descend the race of the Frost-giants (Hrimthursar),
as it is said in the Voluspa, ’From Vidolf come
all witches; from Vilmeith all wizards; from Svarthofdi
all poison-seethers; and all giants from Ymir.’
And the giant Vafthrudnir, when Gangrad asked, ’Whence
came Orgelmir the first of the sons of giants?’
answered, ’The Elivagar cast out drops of venom
that quickened into a giant. From him spring
all our race, and hence are we so strong and mighty.’”

“How did the race of Ymir spread itself?”
asked Gangler; “or dost thou believe that this
giant was a god?”

“We are far from believing him to have been
a god,” replied Har, “for he was wicked
as are all of his race, whom we call Frost-giants.
And it is said that, when Ymir slept, he fell into
a sweat, and from the pit of his left arm was born
a man and a woman, and one of his feet engendered
with the other a son, from whom descend the Frost-giants,
and we therefore call Ymir the old Frost-giant.”

OF THE COW AUDHUMLA, AND THE BIRTH OF ODIN.

6. “Where dwelt Ymir, and on what did he
live?” asked Gangler.

“Immediately after the gelid vapours had been
resolved into drops,” replied Kar, “there
was formed out of them the cow named Audhumla.
Four streams of milk ran from her teats, and thus fed
she Ymir.”

“But on what did the cow feed?” questioned
Gangler.

“The cow,” answered Har, “supported
herself by licking the stones that were covered with
salt and hoar frost. The first day that she licked
these stones there sprang from them, towards evening,
the hairs of a man, the second day a head, and on
the third an entire man, who was endowed with beauty,
agility and power. He was called Bur, and was
the father of Bor, who took for his wife Besla, the
daughter of the giant Bolthorn. And they had
three sons, Odin, Vili, and Ve; and it is our belief
that this Odin, with his brothers, ruleth both heaven
and earth, and that Odin is his true name, and that
he is the most mighty of all the gods.”

HOW THE SONS OF BOR SLEW YMIR AND FROM HIS BODY MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH.

7. “Was there,” asked Gangler, “any
kind of equality or any degree of good understanding
between these two races?”

“Far from it,” replied Har; “for
the sons of Bor slew the giant Ymir, and when he fell
there ran so much blood from his wounds, that the
whole race of Frost-giants was drowned in it, except
a single giant, who saved himself with his household.
He is called by the giants Bergelmir. He escaped
by going on board his bark, and with him went his
wife, and from them are descended the Frost-giants.”